The Tax Cut Showdown
George W. Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut plan sailed easily through the House of
Representatives, where Republicans rule. It promises to have a more difficult time in the evenly split Senate, however. While most Republicans agree with Bush that returning money to families will kick-start the economy, Democrats fear the move will plunge the country into a budget-deficit hell. They don't trust the 10-year protections that say we can afford the cut. A block of Senators, including some Republicans, want to build in safeguards that would call off cuts down the road if surpluses do not materialize. The White House is opposed to the idea.

QUESTIONS1. Does that dog look like he's about to maul the boy?

2. Would you say the dog is good or bad for the boy?

3. Who's the "crazy" one in Kelley's depiction?

4. Why is the dog's tongue sticking out in Beattie's cartoon?

5. Why is the dog impersonating only "rich" Americans?

6. What does Beattie say is the motivation for the cuts?

7. Which cartoonist thinks the cut is justified, and which thinks it's a bad idea?

Those
were the words of Attorney General John Ashcroft, who appeared
before Congress on Dec. 6 to defend the Bush Administration's
methods of rooting out terrorism, which some have branded as
unconstitutional. The controversial measures include the
detention of more than 500 foreigners on immigration charges
since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and proposals to try
suspected terrorists in military tribunals, and listen in on
conversations between suspects and their lawyers.

According
to polls, there is broad public support for the administration's
policy, but concerns have been voiced by members of Congress and
several civil rights organizations who fear that in the conduct
of the war, the administration might weaken the
Constitution.

Civil
rights protections have been suspended in past wars. Abraham
Lincoln famously suspended habeas corpus during parts of the
Civil War. President Franklin .D. Roosevelt established military
courts that executed Nazi infiltrators during WW2.

QUESTIONS1.What is the setting for Ramirez's
cartoon?2.Why
is it an effective device to use here?3. What
pun does Benson employ in his cartoon?4.Why
is it an effective device to use here?5. What
is ironic about the statement in Ramirez's cartoon?6. Does
Ramirez support the administration's tactics?7.Does Benson?